Thunder, meet Mr. Tornado

Rules for survival for OKC’s newest residents

Ever since the Thunder arrived, those who live in Oklahoma have put out the welcome mat.

On Tuesday afternoon, that welcome mat got blown away.

Tornado season arrived 10 days into February, which makes you wonder how scary things might get once the 2009 tornado regular season arrives.

Thunder personnel escaped their first tornadic experience without harm. All are present and accounted for, thank goodness.

Storms flew over and around their homes — luckily not through their homes — in various affluent neighborhoods, including Rose Creek and Oak Tree. If the Thunder personnel didn’t know it before, they will quickly learn tornadoes do not discriminate.

Tuesday’s storms took out trailer parks and million-dollar mansions.

Thunder folk also will quickly learn no state in the union handles a crisis better than Oklahoma.

It has been this way since statehood.

It was that way during the Dust Bowl.

It was that way after the bombing in 1995.

It was that way after the monster tornado in 1999.

It was that way this week.

It will be that way in the future.

For outsiders who are new to tornadoes, there are two golden rules:

1. Heed all warnings and seek shelter.

2. When the storm passes, help each other pick up the pieces.

Follow these two basic requirements and you’ll fit in just fine.

Thunder players were not in town when the storms hit Tuesday.

They had enough problems. They were hours away from playing the NBA’s best team — the Lakers in Los Angeles.

Thunder director of basketball communications Brian Facchini was with the team and said players first learned of tornado warnings shortly after the team’s late-morning shoot-around session.

In what could be considered an odd blessing, the Thunder is an extremely young team. Few players are married with children.

Injured veteran Desmond Mason accompanied the team to L.A. and brought his family alongside.

By the time the Thunder reconvened to go to the STAPLES Center for the game, the storms already had passed through greater Oklahoma City.

"People were calling home to make sure everything was all right,” Facchini said.

Power temporarily was lost at the Thunder’s practice facility on North Lincoln Boulevard.

"To the best of my knowledge, everybody’s homes are OK,” Facchini said. "A couple of places had damage on their property or near their property, but their homes were not damaged.”

Nothing left to do but wait for the next one.

So, once again Thunder, "Welcome to Oklahoma.”

Remember the two golden rules.

John Rohde: 475-3099. John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 6-7 p.m. on The Sports Animal Network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.

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